I think there is a standard every Realtor® must follow -- disclose that you are a Realtor to a fellow Realtor®.
Just recently, I met two Realtors® at a public event. Their true names shall remain anonymous.
Realtor® 1, let's call him "Bill", was very friendly and flirtatious and openly told me that he is a Realtor® but he was helping out a friend at the event.
Realtor® 2, let's call him "James", was somewhat friendly and somewhat sleazily flirtatious and did not tell me that he is a Realtor®. He posed as a salesperson for this other product that he was selling. When I gave him my real estate newsletter, he picked through every item and asked me questions as though he was interested in doing business with me. He then asked me to give him a listing presentation right there on the spot and asked if he should refinance. Basically, he wanted to see how I talk with consumers and I guess learn my "trade secrets". From our brief discussion, I learned that he was in the real estate business because of the terms he used but I did not use in our conversation and he was asking me questions that people in our industry would ask. By the way, I learned from public records that he has only been licensed since last year and he is a Realtor®.
I was able to determine that he was a fellow industry professional primarily because of my 6th sense and knowledge of real estate and seconarily I was a good listener.
Who do you think I will choose to have in my network? Bill, of course.
I think the biggest secret is to treat everyone the way you want to be treated: with respect and don't waste their time -- this is true for the pros and the consumers.
I felt that James was such a slimy sleaze that I did not want to speak with him after what he did. To add insult to it all, when I asked him for a card, he showed me two credit cards. My reply was good humoredly, "No a business card." And he handed me his Loan Consultant card even after he told me that he was not a Realtor®. Perhaps he was not a Realtor® at that event, but he is a Realtor®. Shame on you!!!!
I think that if a consumer comes across a Realtor® like this, my advice will be to run because you do not want someone who is supposed to represent your best interests to play mind games or word games with you. Just think how stressful making a big purchase could be and then add having someone who is supposed to act in your best interest not being straightforward with you.
It's okay to have another job. Just be truthful about it. And it's okay to ask how I do business. Don't try to "steal" my "secrets". You could steal some secrets and try to use them. It wouldn't matter because you need to do what works for your clients and your character has to match your actions.
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